9/29/04 - Wednesday

Wednesday - High 60's. Overcast, breezy. 3:00pm. 7 miles. Had so much fun at Rockland lake on Sunday I decided to run 7 there again this afternoon. Looped around twice and a third. I drove straight from work to the lake, was a lot of prep work to have everything I need to run with me. Hardly anyone at the park do to the cooler weather. Was pretty un-eventful which is always welcome. My knees felt particularly loose and good after, that's twice in a row.. trying not to get too giddy about it.

9/26/04 - Sunday

Sunday - Sunny, 82 degrees. 1:30pm. 10 miles. I have really had pretty good weather since I started training, today was no different. A new venue for this go round. Karen and I drove down to our old stomping grounds: Rockland Lake! karen dropped me off. It was nice to once again to run the 3 mile scenic circle. I ran the lake twice for 6 miles (starting at the duck parking lot) then onto the ring road around then past the firehouse down the hill and to Nyack Beach. This route gave me 10.5 miles. I ran into Karen with about .25 left, at this point I was run/walking since my 10 miles were already over. I did try something different, I ran one mile and then would walk briskly for one minute, also I tryed to stay on the soft surface parellel to the asphalt path. Not sure if this made a difference but my knees today feel much better than they usually do after a long run. I also spent some time walking around Nyack after and maybe that also helped. From here on in I will do that since it apparently made some sort of a difference. Once again my darling Karen met me and had some drink and food for me. Hopefully she is reading this and realizes how important her support has been thru my training (I picked a real good one or she picked me, can't remember). Side note, I did have a tiny little hang over from the wedding the night b4. Also first time with new heel pad in my Reeboks.

9/24/04 - Friday

Friday - Sunny, 70's. 4:00pm. 2 miles. Easy short run today. Have to be at Elyse's for dinner @ 6:00pm. I was a little lazy taking a half hour to an hour nap when I got home. So with time being of the essence I shortened it up. Felt great running such a short distance no pain b4 or after, smooth fast like a machine. Only note is that I had on my New Balance for the first time in a 20 days, last time I wore them was that really crappy 10 mile run. I have new insoles plus a heal cushion in them now, and it did feel good.

9/22/04 - Wednesday

Wednesday - Sunny. Warm. 82 degrees. 3:30pm. 7 miles. Beautiful day once again, headed out to LHF to run their neighborhood. Happily their was not acute pain during any part of the run but did continue to have creaky knees after. From the good deed dept: I yelled at a little kid for chasing and throwing rocks at Canadian geese, I hate them as much as anybody but I don't want to see them get hurt from malicious behavior. The geese promptly thanked me by shitting in my path!

9/18/04 - Saturday

Saturday - Cloudy. 60's. Cool and windy. 2:00pm. 12 miles. Hurricane Ivan stormed thru here today leaving down trees and plenty of standing water in his wake. I had to delay this run till the heavy rain passed. I made sure to eat and drink plenty so I hopefully would not cramp up like last time. I decided to go into Monroe and head down the Heritage Trail, which is a 9 mile trail from Goshen to Monroe. This is the first time on it and figured it would keep me out of traffic. There was lots of tree debris on the trail as well a a few flooded spots. It was a little boring cause it was pretty much a straight trail with little to see. After 6 miles I turned around and headed back unknowingly I had been running slightly down hill on the way out, now I noticed how much I was running down hill, the incline on the way back seemed never ending. Some where before mile 8 my left Achilles started to bark a bit, lots of stopping and stretching but I made it thru clocking 10 minute mile on average. Hopefully the achille thing is an aberration, I'll keep icing and hope for the best. Like I said before "it's always something". My beautiful bride surprised me by being there when I was done and had brought me some donuts.. I was starved. She intended to bring bagels but they were closed. So a new personal best in mileage.. two weeks to go till 16 miles.

9/16/04 - Thursday

Thursday - Sunny. Pleasant. High 70's. 3:30pm. 7 miles. Headed out around Windridge then down the road to Lake Hill Farms. Some where around 4 miles I felt a cramping in my left calf, lower spot than a couple of a weeks back when it hit right behind my knee. I kept the drinking up and stopped to stretch often. As I approached the 6 mile point and still in LHF the pain kept intensifying and working its way to my knee. I sat down massaged and stretched which temporarily worked. I headed home and figured 7 miles is out of the question and I'll stop short of that goal. I slowed down and shortened my stride. The cramp released a bit and I made it home short of 7 miles but decided to loop around the block to finish it up.. I am no stinking wuss! I iced things as usual and stretched my calf a lot... it's always seems to be something.

9/14/04 - Tuesday

Tuesday - Cloudy. Cool, in the upper 50's. 7:50am. 4 miles. Chilly morning today especially with out the sun. I actually wore a long sleeve technical shirt for the first time since last Spring. Un-eventful run today, no out of the norm pain. The every other day rest seems to be paying off. I'll continue doing that the rest of the way of it saves my knees. I'd rather lose some miles and save my legs... I won't skip long runs, but I am not going to sweat losing the short ones.

9/12/04 - Sunday

Sunday - Sunny. Cool. Low 70's. 9:00am. 8 miles. What a beautiful morning. Went on the annual camping trip Friday evening and came home late Saturday night instead of staying the second night. How is that for commitment. This was a big run for me, if my knees hurt like last week I might have to scrap the whole thing. Happily my knees felt pretty good. The usual aches and pains while running were there but not the knee pain like I had last week. My knees were a little achey after but that subsided pretty quickly. So I am encouraged. From here on out I am not going to run back to back days if I can help it I think that will really help out my legs a great deal. I ran a bit slower today ending up with a 10:22 pace which included a 13 and 12 minute first 2 miles. I think slowing up will also help. Side note: Karen followed a long side of me in the car for about a mile and a half of the run.. was nice to have company. I am very glad to have her support it helps a great deal.

9/9/04 - Thursday

Thursday - 80's. Overcast. 5:00. 4.19 miles. OK first run since the terrible 10 last Saturday. Feels as if my legs have healed enough. The first 1.5 were slow stiff and I was too aware of my knees, but after that it didn't feel bad at all and picked up the pace a bit. I now have 2 days off b4 a big 8 miler on Sunday. Hopefully the extra rest will make a difference... I also have been running with my new kicks so everything is a little cushier.

9/8/04 - Wednesday

Wednesday - Felt like I needed to put an entry in, since it's been since Saturday when I last ran. Today it was raining all day and hard... this was the last bit of what's left of hurricane Frances which tore Florida a new asshole although if Ivan (category 5) hits them it's going to make Charley and Frances look like breezy spring day. So with a soaking rain I was not able to get outside and run which was disappointing. Maybe it was a sign to give my legs one more day off.. maybe not. Either way it was.. So I will try tomorrow to get in at least a short run before I am off to camping.

9/4/04 – Saturday

Saturday - Sunny. Mid 70's. 9:00am. 10 miles. I have been discouraged for the very first time. This is the fist day I started to think; There is no chance in hell I can do this. The first 5 miles was pretty easy. I ran down Lakes to Greenwood Lake and then back. I got to G'wood Lake with out incidence. The trip back I started to get knee pain about the 7 mile mark and by 8 miles I really wanted this to be over. NOT a good sign. I did make the entire 10 but was not happy. The Condromalacia in my right knee became symptomatic for the first time in a year and my left one which I have not had symptoms of the disease started to ache as well. All I can do is hope it feels better soon. Hoping its just an aberration and everything will be fine. Next long run is 8 miles next Sunday.

9/3/04 – Friday

Friday – Sunny. Dry. 70’s. 5:00pm. 2 miles. Beautiful day for a run albeit a very short one. First run in my new Reebok Premier kicks. They felt cushioned and pretty good for their maiden voyage. Not much to report.. Taught class today but legs felt OK for the run. Short one today for my first 10 miler is tomorrow.

9/2/04 - Thursday

Thursday- Sunny. 73 degrees. Dry. 5:00pm. 4.29 miles. I felt both good and bad during this run. Started off slow with creaky knees and legs, loosened up mid way and the creaky to end. So first I was scheduled for 4 miles so I was going to do 3, then I felt better and though about doing 5.. ended up at 4.29. Due to the Yankee game this Sunday my long run has to happen Saturday so I want to keep my mileage down tomorrow where I am due to run 3.. I will see how I feel considering I have to teach class tomorrow as well. Decided to get a second knee brace for my left knee b4 it becomes symptomatic like my right.

8/31/04 - Tuesday

Wednesday - Sunny. Dry. 79 degrees. 6:30 pm. 4 miles. It's always nice not to have anything to report after running. It was pretty un-eventful yet a beautiful day to run. Writing this blog the day after I have to say I am achey as all hell. I was planning on running today but it definitely better for me to take the day off. I'll ice up rest and head out tomorrow, Friday and Saturday. Big 10 miler coming up! To this point I have completed 120 miles in around 20 hours of running.